18 posts from August 2008

MAC Blonde's Gold Pigment, Aromaleigh Eye Lustres, and Rihanna's Hair

2 days ago
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I just bought my MAC Overrich pigment in Blonde's Gold yesterday, and I am waiting for my trusty pigment seller to send me the other six (not including Mauvement because I have it) in 1/2 teaspoon samples. Okay, just about every MAC afficionado has read/heard about the hullaballoo concerning the Overrich pigment sizes/weight. The rumor is that these new Overrich pigments are different from the rest in the sense that they are richer and heavier than the others, so the jars are not as full when you receive them, since these are sold by weight and not by volume. I got confused though by the claims (which were confirmed by MAC when they changed the weight on the website) that the pigments were 4.3g instead of 7.5g. Is one of these figures based on weight and the other by volume? Anyways, here is a pic of the brand-new pigment I got. I read from forums that certain ladies were pretty satisfied with their purchase because the jars they got were 3/4 full. I'd tell them though to give their jars a couple of whacks on their countertop and they would see, after the pigments have settled, that these are just a little over half-full:

A little off-putting, but well, Blonde Pigment is SO gorgeous that I just have to get a full-size. These are more than enough to last me for years, anyway (although since I would use this as a lid color, I think I would go through this quicker than my other pigments). It reminds me of Warming Trend eyeshadow from the Naughty Nauticals collection. I love Warming Trend as an all-over lid color, and Blonde's Gold is another beauty that I couldn't resist. I'm wearing it right now and it's just so pretty, it has taupe-gold undertones that give an understated shimmer to the skin.

I think this would also look beautiful as a highlighter on cheekbones. Gorgeousness!

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MAC Cult of Cherry Review and Look

3 days ago
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Before I forget, for swatches and other looks featuring Cult of Cherry, click HERE and HERE.

I already made a semi-review of the Cult of Cherry products in THIS entry, but now that I've already seen the entire collection in stores and read a lot of reviews online, I can safely conclude that it is one of the most coveted MAC collections of the year. The rich, bold colors truly welcome the advent of fall, and although I don't think I can sport dark lips all that much, I can definitely try. My favorites from the collection are the Creme Cerise and Lightly Ripe lipsticks, Kirsch mattene (all these dark mattenes remind me of those late 90s dark matte lipstick craze using Revlon Colorstay in Raisin!), Cherry Blossom and Jampacked lipglasses, Plum de Bois blush, and Spiced Chocolate and Tempting quads. The jury's still out on the Shadowy Lady Quad. I'm still so on-the-fence about that, mainly because I have a lot of shadows that can easily dupe it, and I already have Deep Truth.

Lightly Ripe topped with Cherry Blossom is one of the prettiest color combinations I've seen. It's not too corpse-light nor too goth-dark, and the light sheer pink color flatters most complexions. Jampacked is a beautiful, beautiful sheer grape that can be worn by itself and it will still look gorgeous. It's not as dark on the tube as it is on the lips, so it comes off as a luscious, shiny berry-like stain when worn.

A lot of people are loving So Scarlet, and because I have not tried it yet, I still cannot form an informed opinion about it, but I am excited to use it one of these days. Plum de Bois is the perfect deep pink bronze blush, and it is very buildable - can look as sheerly pink-bronze to medium-dark bronze depending on your application. The gold pearl in it makes it all the more pretty.

The Spiced Chocolate quad is just wonderful. The colors however are too dark for my lid color, so the colors in this quad for ME are all crease, outer V or blender colors. However, they are gorgeous. My favorite is Brash, a frosty reddish copper that when applied on my lids reminds me of Firespot eyeshadow, although they are not dupes of each other at all. I already have Nanogold from the N collection, but I don't mind another one because it is such a coveted, versatile color. The Tempting quad is another favorite, mainly because of the beautiful marriage of Sharp, a frosty bright yellow gold that looks more chartreuse to me, and the rich cocoa colors like Tempting and Dark Edge. I have been trawling the net and I've seen beautiful looks using the Tempting quad. It seems like it is such a fool-proof set.

Anyways, here is a look using the Spiced Chocolate quad and the lip products from the Cult of Cherry.

(Click to see rest of FOTDs, products used, and CCO haul)

In Focus: Anastasia 5-Item Brow Kit

4 days ago
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I've always said to people that even without makeup, anybody can totally revamp and improve the way they look with just the simple step of changing the appearance of their brows. Even without a smidgen of makeup on the face, a girl (or guy) can look groomed, polished, and presentable with beautifully arched brows. The trick however is to properly do it. I've been a little insecure about my brows, mainly because of the uneven hair growth and its shape. I do get to have my brows waxed regularly, but filling them in with the right products has always been a challenge.

With that in mind, I tried the Anastasia Five-Item Brow kit, and it really made a huge difference in my brows, mainly due to the fact that it helped me achieve a much better brow shape. The kit is like training wheels for brows. It teaches you how to properly mark the areas of your face where the brows should start and end, and it also enables you to properly fill in, groom, and highlight your brows and the area around it with the correct tools. The end-result: beautiful brows that frame your face perfectly.

All the products in this kit are great, but my favorites are, well, actually everything except the brow stencils, because those are the only ones I don't use everyday. And yes, I use the rest of the items everyday, and if I don't have time, I use the tweezers every few days or so when I see some regrowth. Here are the items in the kit and my take on them:

1. BROW POWDER DUO

A two-shade compact applied to create beautiful and natural brow effects. This sheer to medium opacity powder includes the antioxidant Vitamins C and E. The emollient formula is transfer resistant and comes with two shades per compact to ensure not only the perfect brow shape but also the perfect brow color. This product is available in five two-tone shades.

My take: I love the powder duo because it is different from the usual eyebrow powder I'd used. It's a little bit tacky in consistency, and hence doesn't fade as easy as those in mere powder form. It has an emollient-rich formula that sticks to the hairs and skin without looking gunky. I like that it effectively shapes my brows quickly, without muss or fuss, with the help of the angled brow brush also included in the kit.

Application Tips:
-Use short, light strokes to fill in sparse brows.
-Apply the powder on the brow using the Duo Angled Brush #10, the Angled Cut Large #17A, the Mini Duo Angled Spooley Brush #7, the Angled Cut Small #15, or the Small Brow Shader #23.
-Apply the darker color fist where the brows are sparse, and then brush the lighter shade over the entire brow.
-Use the Spooley brush to pull the color through.

2. MINI DUO ANGLED / SPOOLEY #7

A personal use version of the Angled Cut/ Spooley Duo Brush, The Anastasia Mini Duo Angled/ Spooley Brush is an essential tool for grooming brows and everyday application of brow products.

Features:
-Use the Spooley brush to pull the excess color out of brows and lashes.

My take: Love, love, love this mini tool! I do exactly what Anastasia has advised her customers to do with this brush. I use the angled brush to apply the color on the brow, then use the spooley to even out the color all over my brows, and to brush off excess color. Perfect little tool, makes doing brows so much easier. If I am really in a hurry, this is all I need to do my brows right.

Application Tips:
-Using the Angled Cut Brush, apply the brow product in the direction of the hair growth.
-Use short, quick brush strokes.
-Using the spooley end, brush upward and outward to pull the excess color through the brow.

(Click to continue)

Pow Wow in Cali: Bloggers' Night Out

5 days ago
6 comments

I am back home! I have work tomorrow (ugh), but I can't turn in without posting these pics. I am very honored to have been part of an amazing night-out with uber-gorgeous ladies from Blogger land, and I couldn't believe that I was at the right place at the right time. I finally met Vanessa (who doesn't know this amazing lady?), and she is just as warm, sweet and bubbly in real life. We also thought of the same things while we were chatting about stuff - truly great minds think alike. =P Nessa, soooo happy to have finally met you! Since I'm in Cali anyway every couple of months or so, I am thinking it won't be the last time I'd see you. :)

Anyways, we dined at the Rock Sugar Pan Asian Kitchen on Santa Monica Blvd. in Century City. Now I am used to driving long distances, but weaving through the clogged arteries of the Los Angeles freeways really took a toll on my nerves. The different freeways I had to use to reach my destination were dizzying, to say the least, and driving alone from Chino Hills to Century City at night for the first time, especially for someone like me who doesn't know the California freeways since I'm from out-of-state, was a tad daunting. But the food, conversations and especially the company were so worth it. My trusty GPS also made my travel so much easier and helped me arrive at the venue on time and in one piece.

The lovely ladies in attendance were Yummiebitez aka Anne, Incandescent aka Helen, MsxJoey aka Joey with friend Drea, NessasaryMakeup aka Nessa, BeautyIsAndrogynous aka Mimi, Fuzkittie aka Rajia with her boyfriend, Jackie aka J.Rose and her friend Ceejay, and last but definitely not the least, the sizzling hot hostess for the night, Pink aka Pam with her boyfriend Cliff. I just cannot believe how amazing these ladies are. I actually first met Anne in the reception area of the restaurant, and she looked so fresh and pretty. Then I met Jackie, another gorgeous lady who was very friendly and who actually lived near where I was staying in Cali. Pink truly lived up to her role as hostess; her charisma was palpable from the start and she really made everyone feel at ease. She gave us all a wonderful remembrance of the pow wow - we each got a NARS Turkish Delight gloss and Liquid Candlelight Face and Body Glow from Laura Geller. Not to be outdone, Nessa gave each of us a boxful of goodies, which was very sweet of her. We had a Yankee Swap as well and I got the Monistat Anti-Chafing gel from Nessa. It was such a hilarious night!

I can't capture the dinner in words, so here are some pics. Again, ladies, it was such a pleasure to meet all of you, especially since we are bound by a common love for makeup. I had to leave early, but it was nice knowing that some of you went on to enjoy the rest of the early morning.

Anne, Pam, moi, Nessa

Anne, Pam, moi, Nessa and Jackie

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MAC Cult of Cherry Haul and Swatches

Aug 22, 2008
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Hi everyone! Just another quick update because I am still on vacay! I trekked to two different MAC free-standing stores here in California (the one in Glendale Galleria and the one in the Brea Mall) to view the Cult of Cherrycollection. Everything looked really fab and the colors were rich and undeniably for fall, which is probably befitting the weather here today in SoCal- gloomy and cloudy! Here are some pics of my Cult of Cherry haul and my swatches. I will post a review once I get back home!

For my previous Cult of Cherry look and product pics, click HERE andHERE.

With Flash

Without flash under natural light

(Click to view the rest of the product photos and swatches)

Aromaleigh: Plums and Wine on Grass

Aug 17, 2008
8 comments

Another fast one! The lengths I have to go through to run to have internet access! ;P Anyways, here's a look featuring Aromaleigh Rocks! Sonics eyehadow in Grass as liner, and PlumWine Pure Rouge as blush. I'm liking the blushes from AL, each blush has a different finish/texture, I noticed, and not all are as shimmery/satiny/matte as the others.

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Dayna's Minerals and Aromaleigh Pure Rouge Blushes

Aug 16, 2008
3 comments

Hey everyone, was able to log in, so here I am! Will be a bit quick, though. Just want to share with you some of my latest acquisitions, and I am loving them.

I bought all 2004 Pure Rouge samples of Aromaleigh (there were I think 20 of them), and I'm loving the texture and application. I love that even though each bag/shade contains 1/4 teaspoon of product (which I think is pretty adequate), you only use so little for each application. I took some shots using one of them, but they are in the other camera, so I will post them once I get to have internet connection again (grrr!).

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Victoria's Secret Beauty: Very Sexy® Mosaic Makeup

Aug 13, 2008
5 comments

Victoria's Secret Very Sexy® Makeup introduces a fresh, fun take on sexy glamour: irresistable color, sensuous textures, and flawless wear. From glosses for kiss-me lips to bronzers for glowing skin, the combination has everything a woman needs- and even more she'll just have to have. It's the new face of sexy, and it's only from Victoria's Secret.

As a child, I remember making this very colorful whale made of small strips of different-colored construction paper. The process itself was very tedious, but the end result was a captivating cornucopia of colors, fusing together to create art. Ever since then, I've loved the concept of mosaics: tiny pieces of art that come together to give a stunning bigger picture.

Victoria's Secret Beauty has come up with three kinds of products that use the mosaic concept. The idea is to have different complementary shades in one compact, that can be used either alone (Mosaic Eyeshadow) or together (Mosaic Blush and Mosaic Bronzer). I find this concept very convenient, especially with the eyeshadows. In one compact, I have four pretty shades that can be used either alone or blended together. No need to worry about palettes or toting several pots of shadows: the compact has it all. I also like the Mosaic Bronzer because the different colors in the compact bring forth pretty nuances in the product when applied on the cheeks. The highlighter part mixes with the dark bronzing color, creating a pretty, sunkissed contour with subtle shimmer. The same thing is true with the blush: the lighter highlighter color mixes with the deep pigmented blush shade when you swirl your blush on the compact, creating a pretty blush with very fine shimmer on the cheeks.

The pigmentation of the eyeshadows are actually quite good. I used my MAC Soft Ochre paint pot for the eye look below, and it applied smooth on the lids, and it was quite easy to blend as well. I loved how complementary the colors were to each other. It was a no-brainer as to which color should be applied as the highlighter, lid, crease, blender, liner and outer V color, as the Mosaic Eye Shadow has it all taken care of for you. As always, I would recommend an eyeshadow primer for these, because as with any eyeshadow product, these will tend to crease and melt off your eyelids without a primer.

(Click for product photos and FOTD)

Victoria's Secret Beauty: Very Sexy® Mosaic Makeup

Aug 13, 2008
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Victoria's Secret Very Sexy® Makeup introduces a fresh, fun take on sexy glamour: irresistable color, sensuous textures, and flawless wear. From glosses for kiss-me lips to bronzers for glowing skin, the combination has everything a woman needs- and even more she'll just have to have. It's the new face of sexy, and it's only from Victoria's Secret.

As a child, I remember making this very colorful whale made of small strips of different-colored construction paper. The process itself was very tedious, but the end result was a captivating cornucopia of colors, fusing together to create art. Ever since then, I've loved the concept of mosaics: tiny pieces of art that come together to give a stunning bigger picture.

Victoria's Secret Beauty has come up with three kinds of products that use the mosaic concept. The idea is to have different complementary shades in one compact, that can be used either alone (Mosaic Eyeshadow) or together (Mosaic Blush and Mosaic Bronzer). I find this concept very convenient, especially with the eyeshadows. In one compact, I have four pretty shades that can be used either alone or blended together. No need to worry about palettes or toting several pots of shadows: the compact has it all. I also like the Mosaic Bronzer because the different colors in the compact bring forth pretty nuances in the product when applied on the cheeks. The highlighter part mixes with the dark bronzing color, creating a pretty, sunkissed contour with subtle shimmer. The same thing is true with the blush: the lighter highlighter color mixes with the deep pigmented blush shade when you swirl your blush on the compact, creating a pretty blush with very fine shimmer on the cheeks.

The pigmentation of the eyeshadows are actually quite good. I used my MAC Soft Ochre paint pot for the eye look below, and it applied smooth on the lids, and it was quite easy to blend as well. I loved how complementary the colors were to each other. It was a no-brainer as to which color should be applied as the highlighter, lid, crease, blender, liner and outer V color, as the Mosaic Eye Shadow has it all taken care of for you. As always, I would recommend an eyeshadow primer for these, because as with any eyeshadow product, these will tend to crease and melt off your eyelids without a primer.

(Click for product photos and FOTD)

Neutral Shadows With Non-Neutral Liner

Aug 12, 2008
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Here is a look using neutral-hued eyeshadows by DreamWorld and The She Space, and lined by blue Meow Feliner (mineral liner). I am glad that I used mostly mineral makeup for this look, as I want to show that one can actually create a look using all (or mostly) mineral products. The only non-mineral products I used were my highlighter for the brows, base, my cream concealer, and lip products.

I used Dayna's Minerals blush in Pur-fection for the first time. It's a gorgeous purple matte blush that comes out deep rose pink on my cheeks. I love that it's matte because it's just perfect with Dayna's glows. I love matte blushes because in my experience, they last a lot longer on the skin than shimmer blushes. I also don't look like a disco ball with matte blushes, should I decide to apply glows over them.